Oyster-knife



(No Model.)

0. B.-DB LAMARRB.

OYSTER KNIFE.

' Patented Oct. 9, 1888.

. "Nrrn rATns IATENI rete CHARLES BOUGOURD DE LAMARRE, OF BILOXI,MISSISSIPPI.

OYSTER-KNIFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.390,'759, dated @etober9, 1888.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES BOUGOURD DE LAMARRE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Biloxi, in the county of Harrison and State ofMississippi, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oyster'Kuives,of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in oyster-knives, the main objectbeing to provide means for the prevention of the wound ing of the handsof the opener; and it consists in the construction and novel combinationof parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of an oystenknife embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3is a similar view, but at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transversesection more fully showing the engagement of the detentring and theslide-rods.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates the handle, preferablyof wood,which is hollow and provided at its smaller end with a ferruleor sleeve, '13, having a central knifeblade opening and the slide-rodopenings 1) b, which are diametrically opposite and equally distant fromthe knife blade opening. In the outer or larger end of the handleengages the screwplug O, to the outer surface of which is fixed therounded piece of gutta-percha to prevent corns or bruises forming on thehand of the opener. The said plug has a central-tapped opening whichengages the tapped end of the tang d of the blade 1). The said blade issecured firmlyin the openingorslot in the ferrule, and is thus heldfirmly at two points, so as to be perfectly stifl on the handle.

E is a strong coiled spring within the handle resting against the plug 0and against a ring or loop, 6, surrounding the tang, so as to force saidring or loop outward. The spring and hollow of the handle decrease indiameter toward the inner end of the handle, so as to preserve thestrength of the latter.

F is the sliding guard-block surrounding the blade and having thelipsff, with inner diverging surfaces to ride on the edge of theoyster-shell and prevent the blade slipping therefrom. The said blockhas the sides f squared and flattened, so that it can be used like asmall hammer when necessary to break the edges of the oyster-shell inthe well-known manner. The said block is connected with the ring e bythe slide-rods G G on each side of the blade, which rods are provided ontheir outer sides with the transverse detent-notches H is a movable ringlying in a circumferential groove in the handle within easy reach of thethumb of the opener when grasping the handle. The said ring has upon itsinner surface the catches h ii, that pass through transverse slots h hin the handle and stand in position to engage the notches g in thecorresponding bars G.

If is a knob or projection on the outside of the ring, by means of whichthe opener can, with his thumb, move the said catches to engage with ordisengage from saidnotches.

The manner of using the knife is as follows: The oyster is taken in theleft hand and the knife in the right and the lips of the guard blockplaced over the edge of the shell at the proper place. The knife is thendriven in between the shells, compressing the spring and driving theguard-block inward on the blade, which becomes uncovered. The catchesare then engaged, in the manner described, in the notches in the slidingrods to hold the guardblock back until the opener separates the shells.and removes the oyster. The opener then re leases the catches, and theguard-block is driven outward to the end of the blade.

When the edges of the shells are very irregular,the block may be used asa hammer to break them off; but this is rarely necessary,

Having described by invention, I claim 1. An oyster-knife comprising ahollow handle, a rigid blade secured in the handle and projecting fromthe end of the same, a guard-block surrounding the blade and sliding onthe same, and a spring secured within the handle and connected to theguard-block, the said spring keeping the guardblock normally projectedto the end of the blade, but allowing it to slide toward the handle whenthe knife is applied to an oyster, substantially as described.

2. In an oyster-knife, the combination of the hollow handle, the bladesecured thereto, the guard-block, the ring e within the handle theslide-rods connecting the guard-block and ring 6, and the spring withinthe handle bearing against the ring 6, substantially as specified.

3. In an oysterknife, the eombination,with the hollow handle, thescrew-plug in its larger end, and the spring resting on said plug, ofthe blade, the guard block, the ring 0, and the slide-rods connectingsaid ring and guard block, substantially as specified.

4. In an oyster-knife, the combination, with the sliding guard-block andslide-bars attaehed thereto, of a detent attached to the handle,operated by the thumb of the opener, and engaging the slide-rods inorder to pre vent the guard-block from sliding outward, substantially asspecified.

(HARLES BOUGOURI) DE LAlllAllRll.

\Vitnesses:

E. GLENNAN, D. MoDoNALo.

